Aurora POV:I woke up more nervous and anxious than i ever was, it hit me i was heartbroken and jobless, again. I couldn't go back to the office today, i already told him i i quit, besides if i hadn't i could not bear the sight of him, i was scared i will get mesmerized again and bend to his will i can't have that, i am not cheap, i will never be a physical liason for anyone. I was scarec to go back to Mr. Jodan, now that i knew the feeling he harbor from me. I was confused, i thought i would lose my head. If i stayed at home, it was a matter of time before my mother would suspect something was amiss. I couldn't start looking for a new job, the stress and the wages would be so low compared to what i was accustomed to. So i opted for what i could bear the consequences. Perhaps it was high time i start to meet people who appreciate me, i can't decide to love one man forever, it would bring nothing but pain and pain and pain and misery and pain. It wouldn't hurt meet someone else, pe
Michael POV I headed to work, when i entered the office. I could feel the air of coldness. I stared at her empty her desk, i knew she wouldn't come, but it hurta differently finding she really didn't come. I knew Mabel and Libby also knew she would not be coming to work again. They were throwing me accusing looks. The warm welcome that has almost become a ritual, has turned to a cold shoulder. I wonder what she told them, she wouldn't want to tell them the truth and would probably compromise. I wonder if she would put me out there and lay the entire blame me. I wouldn't blame her of she did, i did deserve it. She deserve better and i hurt her.I cleared my throat "Aurora won't be joining us again for the time being" i said"Did she quit again" She asked accusingly but hurt"It was due to some personal reasons we could not agree on. We will sort it out and try to figure a way around it. But for now, she will be working somewhere else" I watched them, the dissapointment was so visi
Aurora POV:Appollos was one of the first to welcome me back and for that i was grateful. Others stared at liked i hadn't work here for the past three months. I guess i did deserve that."That didn't take long, did it?" He asked rhetorically I nodded. "I was so angry when you left without telling me, i was so sure i wouldn't forgive you" He saidThen, it struck me, indeed i didn't tell him i was leaving, he hadn't come to work that day, i was so excited, it has eluded my mind."So, what did i miss?" I asked "They were all staring at me strangely" i added sadly"They are angry, but trust me they are relieved to see you""Angry at me? Well, what did i do?" "Well the boss, looks lonely at first, he kept staring toward your office, then it did turned to rage, somehow someone spreaded the gossip you were at Michael's office. It was almist like it triggered a switch in his head. He was so angry even i felt scared, he was raging, screaming at any error made. Some workers were so angry her
Aurora POV:I pulled up in the clinic patking lot, I walked to the entrance and waited there for a moment, trying to repel some bad thoughts that were seeping into my brain, i tried so hard to force them out of my brain, but the anxiety onmy got worse.I finally summoned the courage and walked in, I was hit with the familiar amalgam of smell which always tightened my stomach. It was deja vu staring at the bright white walls, plug ins for equipment, fluorescent lights, a big television set was playing in the corner of the waiting room to keep the awaiting patients mind off their pain while they await. People being paged over the intercom, the whoosh of automatic doors between hospital wings, slippers whispering as a patient take her IV stands for a walk. Just like most Private hospitals often are, It had wards that are safe, clean and nurturing with well equipped facilities which offcourse makes it expensive. And as expected it is relatively emptier and uncrowded to his public counte
Aurora POV:I stayed in the car until the tears stopped and I was able to act with some sort of normalcy. I checked my eyes in the mirror to make sure they weren’t red. I didn’t want to alarm my mother. I wondered miserably how long i could keep it from her, she would be horrified if she found out about the baby.With a forced smile, I called to my mother as i walked in. She looked up from her soap opera and waved and smiled absently, going right back to the action on the screen.It was a reprieve. I went into the bedroom and changed into loose jeans and a sweatshirt. I did lay down for a few minutes, certain that mother wouldn’t be moved by a hurricane until her program went off.I had to make a decision, and quickly. Now i was dead sure i couldn’t hop on a bus and leave town. It would be impossible to move mother right now. I couldn’t leave because my mother wouldn’t survive being uprooted. She loved Jacobsville.I had one temporary course of action, to stay at Leo Jordan ranch an
Michael POV:I watched my phone rang, i picked it up before it cut off. A glance at the screen and felt an akward burst of emotion. I haven't heard from the old man im quite a while."Michael" i heard his rich baritone voice."Old man" i mused.He chuckled like he always does whenever i called him old man."I'm not that old" he replied I suddenly heard a voice "Mr. Angelo" the voice said.I recognized Jane voice at once. "Hey, Jane." "My father is quite ill. He has hernia"I heard his voice in the background 'Don't scare him, I'm not that ill' "The Doctor said he will need an operation as soon as possible. The operation is tommorrow morning, will you be able to make it" "Do you plan to drag him all the way from Jacobsville? He is probably busy" He said again in the background. "The doctor said he is gravely ill, you have to come"I knew why she wanted me there, just like i consider them as family they did the same."I will be there Jane Eyre" ""Give the phone back to your old man
Michael POV:I drove down the familiar street, my heart was pounding in my chest. It had been years since I had set foot in this place, and the memories were flooding back faster than I could process them. This was the orphanage where I had grown up, where I had spent most of my childhood. And now, for some reason, I felt drawn back to it.As I pulled into the parking lot, I could see that the building was just as I remembered it. The same brick walls, the same old wooden door. But there was something different about it now, something that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Perhaps it was just the passage of time, or maybe it was the fact that I was seeing it through the eyes of an adult instead of a child.I took a deep breath and got out of the car, making my way towards the entrance. As I reached for the doorknob, my hand shook involuntarily. It was as if my body was telling me to turn back, to run away from this place and never look back. But I knew that I couldn't do that. I nee
■○♡○♤○♤○♡○♡Michael POV:I stood in front of the burnt-out remains of the house, I felt a knot form in my stomach. This was my family's home, the place where they had lived and died, and I had never known until now.I stood there, my heart pounding like the beating of a thousand drums. My chest felt tight, as if I were being held in a vice, suffocating me. My eyes were wide open, scanning the room for any possible escape route, but there was none. All I could do was stand there, helpless, as my emotions threatened to consume me whole.At first, it was just a dull ache in my chest. A nagging feeling that I couldn't quite shake off. But then, it started to grow, like a wildfire that had been ignited in my heart. It burned fiercely, consuming everything in its path, until it became too much to bear.I felt like a volcano, ready to erupt at any moment. My emotions were like molten lava, bubbling and churning inside of me, threatening to overflow and destroy everything in their path. I tri
Epilogue Aurora POV:The warm sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a soft golden glow on the bedroom walls. I lay in bed, feeling the gentle rhythm of my husband's breathing beside me. It had been a long and arduous journey for us, but today was a day of happiness—a day to cherish the love and resilience that had brought us together.I watched him for a long time, I enjoyed watching him sleep. there was something particularly soothing about watching him sleep.As I stretched my arms above my head, my eyes fell upon the photograph on the nightstand. It captured a moment frozen in time, our wedding day. We got married on a beach in Oregon. It was the most beautiful day of my life. Michael's eyes were filled with unwavering devotion, and I couldn't help but smile at the memory. The vows we exchanged that day held the promise of a lifetime of shared dreams and unbreakable bonds.We had toured the world like he had promised leaving with beautiful memories everywhere we we
Michael POV:As I stood before the graves of my parents and Beatrice, a mix of emotions washed over me. It was the first time I had brought anyone to this sacred place. I watched as she knelt down, her face solemn and filled with respect, paying her respects to the departed souls who had unwilling been absent to shape my life."Who are they?" She askedI was yet to tell her whom they are and name on the graves gave no clues to whom they were. "The first two are my parents and the third is my elder sister" She looked taken aback"I thought you never knew them""I was lucky to find out, with some help of some friends. I wanted you to meet them too"She nodded, her eyes filled with awe. Aurora's voice trembled slightly as she spoke, her words carrying a weight of sincerity and determination. "I promise you, dear parents and sister, that I will take care of Michael. I will be there for him, just as you were. I will cherish him, support him, and love him with all my heart. You have left
Michael POV: The town recieve the news about Calhoun with mixed feelings. The next few days was spent uprooting every corrupt official on Calhoun payroll and his drug warehouse was ruthlessly shut down. It was finally Mark's funeral, I had dreaded this day because of the effects I knew it would have on me.I stood there, my heart heavy with sorrow, as I gazed upon the somber scene before me. The room was filled with mournful whispers and tear-streaked faces, each one reflecting the immense loss we all felt. "Today, we gathered to bid farewell to a dear friend, a courageous soul who had given his life in the line of duty. He was a cop, a protector of the innocent, and his untimely death"The eulogies began, each one a testament to his character and the impact he had made on countless lives. His family, friends, and fellow officers all shared their stories, their voices trembling with a mix of grief and admiration. They spoke of his courage, his selflessness, and his unwavering deter
Aurora POV: It's been days since my search and rescue. I never imagined that freedom could feel so overwhelming. After enduring the horrors of being kidnapped and held captive, the sweet taste of liberation should have been pure bliss. Yet, as I cautiously navigate this newfound freedom, it feels as though the world around me is still holding its breath, afraid to disturb the fragile existence I've fought so hard to regain.The news of my rescue spread like wildfire, and people showered me with words of relief and gratitude. They embraced me with tender hugs, their eyes brimming with tears of joy. But beneath their smiles, I sensed a subtle unease, an unspoken fear of shattering my fragile state of recovery. It's as if they see me as a porcelain doll, easily broken with a single misplaced step.Every interaction now feels calculated, as if everyone around me is walking on tiptoes, afraid to say or do anything that might trigger painful memories or send me spiraling back into the dark
Aurora POV:I stepped into the familiar warmth of Michael's house. He came back to pick me up the next morning after spending considerable time with my mother. He had insisted on staying with him for the time being and my mother was only happy to agree. It is a mix of relief and apprehension flooding my senses. The events of the past few days had been a nightmare, one that had finally released its grip on me. I glanced around, taking in the comforting sights of our living room, but the shadows of the ordeal still lingered in every corner.Michael stood beside me, his eyes filled with a mix of worry, love, and a determination to keep me safe. I understood his concerns; after all, I had been taken away from him against my will. But as much as I craved his protective presence, I also longed for a sense of normalcy and the freedom to heal at my own pace.Michael furry companions who seems to have been waiting anxiously for my return, approached cautiously, sniffing the air with curiosity
Michael POV:As I walked Mr. Eyre and Jane to the airport, the weight of sadness enveloped us, casting a somber atmosphere over our conversation. The news of Calhoun, being responsible for his daughter's death had left us both of them speechless and devastated.Jane walked in front while Mr. Eyre and I walked behind her."I can't believe it, Michael," Mr. Eyre whispered, his voice trembling with disbelief and pain. "How could someone commit such a heinous act? I can't wrap my mind around it."His words echoed the thoughts that swirled in my own mind. I struggled to find an answer, my voice choked with emotions. "I don't know, Mr. Eyre," I managed to say, my voice laced with sorrow. "We continued walking through the airport, the surroundings a blur as our conversation grew heavier with regret and guilt."I blame myself, Mr. Eyre " I confessed, "I can't help but wonder if there were signs I missed, if I could have protected her somehow. And to think I have wined and dined with her kill
Aurora POV:I stood there, watching the flames dance and devour the remnants of the cloth I had worn during my unimaginable ordeal. The crackling fire illuminated the night, casting a warm glow upon my face as i gathered around its flickering embrace. The crackling of the flames seemed to echo the tumultuous journey I had endured, a journey that had tested my spirit to its very limits."Aurora" My mother called, I turned to see her creeping on me. I saw glint of sadness in her eyes, when she saw what I was burning. What was suppose to represent a joyous day, now represents a traumatizing experience, it's existence needed to be erased."Libby and Mabel are here to see you. Should they wait for you in the Living room""Let them join me in the backyard" I replied softly "Ok dear" I heard their footsteps few seconds later, before Libby reached out and gently touched my shoulder. "We came as soon as your mother called you are back" Her voice trembled with emotion as she spoke, "We miss
Michael POV:"Are you okay, Aurora? I'm here now, everything is fine now" I held her tightly like someone would try to steal her from my hand againHer tear glands finally gave in to the waterworks. "I was so scared" she said choking on her own words. "I thought I was not going to see you again""Then I had Mark died in my arms, I watched him died, life sucking out of him slowly. Then I had to stare at his dead body for hours""You are fine now"I patted and rocked her body like one would a baby. It felt soothing to have her in my arms again. My heart races in my chest, adrenaline still coursing through my veins as I hold her tightly in my arms. We've just escaped from the clutches of danger, and the relief surges through me like a tidal wave. I can feel her trembling against me, her breath coming in short gasps, and I know she's just as shaken as I am. As I look into her eyes, gratitude and love swirl in the depths of my being. The thought of losing her, of never seeing that radian
Aurora POV: I sat resting on the wall while staring into the oblivion. I sit here, trapped in this cold, desolate room, my spirit drained and my body weary. The flickering overhead light casts eerie shadows on the peeling walls, reflecting the dismal state of my existence. My mind is numb, and my once fiery gaze has dulled into a vacant stare.Hope, once a flickering flame within me, has been extinguished. Not the long for my mother's smile and Michael touch could rekindle the hope. It has been replaced by a resignation, a surrender to the cruel fate that has befallen me. The days and nights blend together, a blur of monotony and fear. I have lost track of time, as each passing moment feels like an eternity.Calhoun intentions are unclear, his motives shrouded in darkness. If he wanted to kill me he should have already. All I know is that he holds complete control over my life, and I am at his mercy. The uncertainty gnaws at me, devouring any remnants of strength I have left. I wonde